Photographic processing apparatus



Jan- 1, 1952 E. H. Hl-:YER ETAL PHoToGRAPmc PROCESSING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 16, 1947 INVENTORS, dbg J/.J

Jan- 1, 1952 E. H. HEYER ETAL PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 16, 1947 IN V EN TORS .wm mm mwwmw Nm wwf mw E. H. HEYER ETAL 2,580,779

PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSING APPARATUS Jan. l, 1952 3 sheets-sheet :5

- INVENTORS. I USA/JL Filed Dec. 16, 1947 Patented Jan. 1, 1952 l 2,580,779 PHOTOGRAPHio-PRQCESSI'NG APPARATUS Eric HiHeyer, Los Angeles, `and Edward Z. Walters, North Hollywood, Calif.

Application December 16, 1947, Serial No. 792,0 16

l This invention relates t'o automatic equipment, and particularly to a completely automaticV roll iilm negative developing, printing, and printdeveloping machine which requires` only that thel roll film be inserted by hand and the completed prints and negatives be removed by hand from a special depository. All other operations are controlled and performed automatically.

Photographic units lin the form of cameras having developing units attached thereto are known, as well as automatic developing units for nlm', such as motion picture film, the latter having been used to a considerabley extent. 'The present invention, however, isy directed to a com plete continuous unit which not only develops a roll of negative film, but prints the negatives to' paper, controls the printingI operation in accord ance with the density of the negative, finally develops the prints, and then deposits them in a container to which access may be had only 'by the holder of a proper keyv obtained at the time the film is rst started through the machine.'

The general operations on the nlm, after the spool has been inserted in a spoolv holder similar to a spool holder in a camera, and after the end of the paper backing roll has been inserted in a spring operated clip which separates the paper' from the lm, are the attachment of the nlm to a developing belt, which passes the film negative through the various lm processing solutions and through a film dryer, the separation thereof from' the belt, the presentation of the negative to an automatic printer where it is printed to paper stock according to the density 'of the negatives." the attachment of the papensto'ck 'to a'print' processing belt where the 'stock is processedand dried, the separation of the stock from'the'belt.'

the depositing thereof in a' container. andthe bypassing of the print processing tank 'by 'the negative nlm for delivery to the print container.'

To' obtain access to the' startingA point of'fthe mechanism where theiilmis inserted'a coin mustbe deposited, at which tire'a key is obtained 'for' the container to which the film Willbe delivered.` The entire process has been designed to take" approximately thirty (30) minutes'o'r less, from the time the film enters the machine until it" enters the nal depository. In this manner, the

usual time element required for obtaining a com'- plete set of'prints from a roll of negative nlm' ishvery much shortened, particularly when theusual practice is to deliver film to atdrug store'or other photographic'shop where the'genera'l 'time' minimum for obtaining theV prixyits-- is 'about '24' 355- iilm and a circular opening throughwhich the hours. Y

1e anims. (ol. esa-13) of the print stock.

Another object of the invention is to provide a completely automatic roll film developing, printing, and print processing machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide Il! an improved continuous and automatic negative film developing process and equipment in com` bination 'with an automatic printer for the negef tive and an automatic print processing method and equipment.

lli A still further object of 'the invention is to provide a coin-operated roll film developing and printing and print processing system including a safety depository for the negative and prints. Although the novel features which are believed 2 0 to Vbe characteristic of this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the appended claims, the manner of its organization and the mode of its operation will be better understood by referring to the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a complete automatic machine embodying the invention.

.39V Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the end of the unit at which the film is entered.

Fig-Sis a perspective view of the end of the unit at which thefdeveloped negative and-printstherefrom are obtained.

Fig 4 is an enlargedelevational View of the negative developing equipment and the automatic printer portion of the machine.

- Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the unit for'fasten-- ing the negative to the negative processing belt 4m and the print stock to the `print stock processing belt.

the print stock.

45.-; Fig. E is a--detailed view of the paper starting,

stopping, and cut-'off mechanism.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the depository for the iinished prints and negatives, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of a key used in the 5o; invention;

6- isan enlarged elevational View of the print processing, drying, and delivering unit for end of a cylindrical depository 1 protrudes. Referring particularly to Fig. 4, the door 6 is hinged at 9, biased toward open position by a spring I6, and adapted to close a microswitch when the door is in closed position. The closed microswitch I also energizes a solenoid I4 which holds a latch I5 in locked engagement with a latch i6 on the door to maintain the door closed while the film is being removed from its spool. Positioned below the door is a coin-operated unit 26 having a handle 2|, a coin slot 22, and a key receiving tray 23. The operating circuit for the motors and other equipment passes through the microswitch and the coin box 20 so that it is necessary for both the door 6 to be closed and a coin to be inserted in the slot 22 before the equipment will function.

To start a film in the system, the roll of film, after exposure in a camera, is placed between the ends of spool holding brackets 26, as shown at 21. The backing paper is then partially removed and the end attached to one of the clamps such as shown at 29 on a drum 39. After the door 6 is closed and the coin inserted and the handle 2| pushed down, the drum 30 will revolve 180, and because of the curl in the nlm, its loose end will enter channel chute 32 between driven rollers 33. When the end of the nlm is reached, it will be torn from the paper, the paper continuing around the drum 30 to be deposited in a basket 35 when the clip 29 contacts a release cam 3| which releases the paper from the clip. The paper is held `liat on the drum by a pressure plate 34.

When the forward end of the lm, as shown at 44 (see Fig. 5) reaches the end of the chute 32, it will pass between a belt 36 and a roller 31, thus moving a rod 38 to the left so that a spring biased latch 39 passes to the left of a second spring biased latch 46, the latch 46 maintaining an electrical contact 42 open until it is moved to the right. The lm 44 continues along with the belt 36 until it reaches a microswitch roller 45 which it moves to the left, closing an electria cal circuit through a solenoid 46 energized from a source of energy, such as shown at 41. Actuation of the solenoid 46 rst moves the housing 48 to the right until it contacts the iilr'n and a staple is then driven, by further plunger action, through the film and into the belt 36, a backing plate 49 being provided. The stapling device is of the magazine type holding a U-shaped clip of wire staples well-known in the art. The movable plunger within the coil 46 pushes` a staple from the magazine, which is in the vertical arm of the housing 48, through the film 44 into the belt 36, similarly to the action of the well-known Hotchkiss or Bates oiiice staples. The function of the backingr plate is to slightly bend over the ends of the wire staple. When the tail end of the lm passes the roller 31, it is moved to the right by a spring 4| against the belt 36, thus actuating latch 40 to close contact 42 which again energizes solenoid 46 to staple the rear end of the Iilm to the belt 36. The closing of the contact 42 also breaks the energizing circuit of solenoid I4, allowing spring IIl to open the door 6 to indicate that the machine is ready for the insertion of another roll of lm.

Referring again to Fig. 4, the negative is then carried by the belt 36 through the various processmg tanks, such as a developing tank 53, a short stop tank 54, a hypo tank 55, and a washing tank 56, the lm then passing into a dry box 58 having a plurality of drying lights 59. The dry bQX; iS also vto depository 1.

provided with a motor driven fan 6| which will circulate air from the bottom of the box through the top of the box, as indicated by the arrows.

When the,A forward end of the nlm reaches roller 62, a separator in the form of a blade passes between the lm and belt to remove the staple, thuspermitting the nlm to pass between drive rollers 65 and into a channel chute 66. It will be noted that, when the i'llm is unwound from the spool 21, the emulsion side faces downvvardh1 and is attached to the belt with the emulsion side out. Stapling by stapler 48 is done slightly back of the forward end of the nlm, this distance being that between the stapler 48 and the roller 45. Thus, the front end of the lm bends slightly away from the belt 36, permitting the separator blade 63 to be inserted between the lm and belt, and thus, insure the separation of the nlm from the belt.

The lmthen continues through the chute 66, and, after passing drive rollers 81, is superimposed upon print stock from a roll 69 at point 16. However, before the film reaches point 19, it passes between a light source 12 and a photoelectric cell 13, the latter being connected to a solenoid potentiometer 15 which varies the energy from a source -16 over conductors 11 to a printing light source 18. A shutter device controlled by the cell v13, such as shown in U. s. ratent No. 1,925,355, could also be used. YIn this manner, each negative is measured for density. and the printing light automatically adjusted to provide the proper exposure of the paper stock.

The printer also includes a condenser and diffusing lens unit 8|, a slit plate 82 with narrow printing aperture 83 therein, the plate being held by spring tensioned members 85. By the use of a narrow printing aperture, the film and paper may be radvanced continuously past the light source, the light intensity being varied to provide the proper exposure.

To show the paper starting, stopping, and cutoil mechanism, reference is made to Fig. 7, wherein a microswitch |36 is closed by' the forward end of the negative. This action energiz'es a solenoid I3I through a power source, such as a battery |32. Actuation of the solenoid presses a drive' roller |35 on the negative 44 with sufficient force to permit the drive roller |36 to advance the paper in contact with the negative. When the front end or the negative reaches a roller |31, it readies a latching device, such as shown at 3'1--43l in Fig. 5. Thus, when the rear-end oi the film` passes roller |31. a contact is made to energize a solenoid |38 which lowers a knife |40 on the' paper to sever it. When the rear end of the negative passes microswitch |38, the roller |35 will be raised, but the paper and negative wiltl continue to be advanced by drive rollers 93 and 9|, respectively.

Referring now to Fig. 6, after the printing operation, the iilm and paper are separated by the lower section 88 of lm chute 89, (see Fig. 4) the negative being advanced by rollers 9| and 92 The paper is advanced into chute 94 by drive rollers 93 and to a print processing belt 95 where a roller 96 is moved to the left similarly to roller 31 in Fig. 5. The stapling unit 98 operates in the same manner as the unit shown in Fig. 5,' except that the rollers 31 and 45 are reversed,.since the paper and belt move upwardly. When the paper is stapled to the belt, it continues through the pring processing unit |66 with its drive rollers IDI and idler rollers ,|02 and respective developing, nxing, and washing tanks in the well-known mnner, a .preeire processing unit for paper stock being'ds'closfed @acclaimed in @pending app1icatin`ser. No. 780,914', -illed ct'ober 20, 1947.

After processing, the paper passes around 'a rotary drum ,dryer |05 having external drying lamps H11 and internal radiating heat units 108. After drying, the paper print is stripped fr'ci! teit 95 by a separator blade nu, 'similar to the blade 63 in Fig. '4. The paper then continues in chute I ll to the depository 1. The speed bf the negative through chute 89 and the speed of the print stock through unit 4lll may be Ysuch that both reach the depository at substantially 'the Sametime. Thus, a contact arm having a roller l I3 will move ala'tch Ill behind a latch H5 when the film and paper are passing into one of the containers suchlas shown at H8111 Fig. 8 of depository 1. When the rear end of either 'the paper or negative, whichever is last, passes Vthe roller `I I3, however, a contact 9 will be made to energize a motor l`2| from .power source [22,- xvhich will rotate the depository through an angle of one container and then stop toI present an empty container to the chute lll. Now, when a key |25, such as shown in Fig. 9, is Yinsertel'l vin 'its proper lock |426 according to its identicaon mark, the holder of the key may obtain the negative and prints in the container. The Owner of the key does not have to immediately open contai-ner-L since the depository is large enough to accommodate 'a days operation at the end of which an attendant will remove all 'films and package them for the owners, or deposit vtl'iern'in a storage depository with locks such as` |26. The key |26 may be made to be unremovable after it has unlocked its container. f w

The above fully automatic roll lm developer. printer, and print processor will, therefore, provide prints of aroll within less than one-half of f an hour, or at any time the owner wishes to call for them thereafter. It is to be understood that certain features may be constructed differently from that described above without altering the function of the machine or departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. An automatic photographic continuous developing and printing machine for a. roll of negative nlm on a spool comprising a serially arranged negative developer unit, a drying unit for said negative, a printing unit, a paper print stock developer unit, a drying unit for said paper printlstock, an individual single loop belt carrier for said negative passing through said nega; tive `developer unit and -said drier unitffor 'said negative, an individual single `loop belt'r carrier for said paper print stock passing through said print stock developer unit and said drying unit, means for 'separating rolls of 'exposed but undevelopednegatives of varying widths and lengths from their respective paper backings, mechanical means for automatically and physcz'illyl attaching said undeveloped negatives to said negative developing belt carrier upon contact of vsaid negatives with said means, Wedge means for passing between said carrier andnegatives for physically separating said negatives from said carrier after development and drying of said nega tives, meansfor advancing paper print stock in contact with the developed negatives, and mechanical means for automatically and physically attaching said exposed print stock to said print stock developing belt carrier, Wedge means for passing between said print stock and said carif'r 'f 'r pliys'lcally sep ""lti'n'g `said fprintfst'ocl 'from 'its ''carrier` :after deyelopment'and drying of said stock, 'and meansfordelivering both said print "stock 4and negative A"to a common point.

2. An 4"automatic' photographic developing and printing :machine in 'accordance Withclaizn '1, in which said iirstmentioned means includes a drum to 'which said backing paper is manually at-l tached, rotation 'of said drum pulling said paper and yseparatin'g :said negative therefrom and advancing the end of said negative to said negative developing vbel't carrier;

3. jAn 'automatic photographic 'continuous developing and print-ing machine for a roll of negative iilm on a spool comprising 'a serially arranged negative developerunit, a vprinting unit, and a printing stock vdevelopi'ng.unit, each of said developing units having a single loop belt carrier, in combination with means for separating a roll of exposed but undeveloped negative from its interleaved .paper backing,V means for automatically attaching said -undeveloped negative to said negative developing belt carrier with the emulsion side of 'said negative away from said belt carrier, wedge means for automatically separating said negative from its carrier after development of said negative, means for advancing paper print stock in contact with the developed negative, means for automatically attaching saidexposed print stock to said print stock 'developing belt carrier with the emulsion 'side of 'said stock away from said belt carrier, wedge means for automatically vseparating said print stock from its carrier after development of said stock, means for delivering both print ,stock and negative Vto a common point, and 'a controlling means for said means for attaching said negative film to its carrier and lsaid means' for attaching said print stock to 'carrier said 'controlling means including a plurality of electrical contact elements, means attached to -said elements and movable by the beginning and end of said film to position and close said contacts, and a stapling device actuated by the' closing of said contacts for stapling said y 4. An automatic photographic developing and printing i'achine in accordance with claim 1, in which said wedge means for separating said negative lrii from its "carrier and said means for separating said print stock from its carrier include a blade positioned Afor insertion between said negative iilrn and its carrier, and a second blade psitioned for 'insertion between said print stock a'nd its carrier-x 'the advancement of said negative carrier and negative directing said nlm toward 'said printing unit and the advancement of said print stock carrier and said print stock directing said print stock toward said com- 'mon point. i t

, 5.v lAn automatic photographic developing and printing machine in accordance with claim 1, in which said. advancing means for said print stock in cotact with-said negative includes a drive rolleri a pressure 'rol-ler,` means for positioning said lpri-nt stock'and negative between said rollers,v electrical contact means actuated by contact with said negative, and means energized by the closing of said contact means for moving said pressure roller into contact with said negative..

6.v In anautoniatic photographie continuous printing and developing 'machine, the combination of a negative film developing unit, a drier for said negative iilm, a roll of print paper from which different lengths may be severed. a light assume source, means .for continuouslyadvancing said negative from said drier pastsaid'light'surce, a switch operative upon .contact 'withsaid nega.- tive nlm, a pressure roller for pressing saidlnega-v tive in iirm contact with said print paper, said pressure roller being actuated by said fswitch, for advancing said print paper in .contact 4u'/it1 1 said negative past said light source, .and a sec; ond switch actuated in one direction upon lcon-'- tact with said negative nlm, and a. cutter actuat-4 ed by operation of said switch in th'e'other direc-'- tion by passage of the endof saidneg'ative print past said switch for severing'a length of said print paper from said roll determined by the length of the negative nlm.

7. An automatic photographic printing vand de veloping machine in accordance with claim 6, in which a, second light source and a`.`photoele ctric cell are provided between which said negative nlm passes, and further means are provided for varying the intensity of thelight from' said iii-st light source impressed en said negative" i n accordance with the density of said' negative nlm as it passes said Asecond light source.

8. In an automatic photographic .printing and developing machine, the combination of adrum, a clamp on said drum to which' thebaclring'paper of a negative iilm roll is attached, tmeansfior advancing said. drum to unroll said paper 'aguide for the end of the negative film on'saidfroll as said iilm is advanced and saidrpaper is unwound from said roll. al single loop negative'processing .belting passing through a series of' developing' solutions, a stapling device adaptedv .to staple each end of said negative to 'saidb'eltlfor passage through said solutions, an automatic'printer,I 4a roll of print stock, said printer printingfsaid negative to said print stock as said ngative and print stock pass in contact through said. p rinte er, a single loop print processing belt "passing through a series of developing solutions ,foij said print stock, a stapler for stapling both ends of said exposed print vstock to said print processing belt for passage through said developing solutions, a depository having separated containers therein, a guidefor directing said negative n lm y to a container in said depository means for advancing said print stock to said container insaid depository, a motor for rotating said depository,

and means operative by passage of said negative and print stock for energizing said motor toror tate said depository the width of one container.

9. An automatic roll nlm developer .and printje er comprising means to which the baclfgijngipa#y per of a iilm roll is attached, vd riif/e vmeans for print.. Steck developing .solutions and .a single beltpassingthroueh Said Solutions.. 1

A10'., Automatic "roll film apparatus ,comprising a unit for separating the backing paper from the negativenlln 4of a film roll, a negative film deyelopingfandldrying unit, a single belt passing through said unit, a stapler, means for advancing4 said film to said stapler and said belt, means operative upon contact with said nlm for actuatinssaid stapler for fastening said nlm to said belt, means adjacent said drier forseparating said nlm from said belt, an automaticl printer unit, a print developer unit, and a stapler unit, said printer including a pair of light sources, a roll of print stock from which diierent lengths may be severed, a photoelectric element receiving light from one of said sources through said iilm for controlling the intensity of said other lightsource, drive means for said print stock. and film, and means for severing a length of said print stock determined by the length of said negative lm, said print developer unit includ'- ng a Single belt passing through said unit, said stapler unit including means 'operative upon conf tact at the front end of said print stock for fas? teningsaid stock to said belt.

11, Automatic roll lm apparatusin accord- 'ance with claim 10, in which a depository having individual containers therein is provided together with means for separating said stock from saidbelt, means for advancing said nlm from said printer unit to one' of said containers, and means for advancing said stock to said same container. 12. Automatic Vroll film apparatus in accfnfd` ance with claim 11, in which a motor pro-' vided together with means actuated Aby the passage of said film and print stock into` said con# tainer for energizing said motor for rotating said depository the width of one container.'

v1 3. Automatic roll film apparatus in accordance with claim 12, in which an enclosure is pro# vided for housing all of said units, means being mounted externally of said enclosure for obtaining access to said unit for separating the' backing paper from the film of said film roll.

ERIC H. HEYER. EDWARD Z. WALTERS.

REFERENCES CITED rotating said means, a guide fordirecting'the end of the negative lm in said roll,; said negan tive iilm being unwoundby said first mentioned means, a single negative precessing belt passing through a plurality of developingsolutiona a stapler, means for actuating said stapler when the Y head end of said negative lmreaches said processing belt, means for actuating said stapler when the tail end of said iilm reaches saidV processing belt, a continuous 'printer and print` processing unit, said printer including a, rollv of print stock,

means for advancing said print stock in contact with said negative nlm, means for automatically exposing said printstock to light -in accordance with the density of said negative', and means for severing said print stock from said print stock roll, said processing unit including a series' of nie of this patent: Y

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